Tuesday, October 12, 2010

When Kristy Evans, Editor of Scrapbooking Memories, asked if I could create a layout using 12 or more Travel Photos on a double layout, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Having come home from a trip to America earlier in the year, I had plenty of pics to choose from.

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Here is the layout I created and it is published in a recent issue of Scrapbooking Memories.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

I recently made a difficult decision to finish up writing the Keeping It Simple article for Scrapbook Creations. I have been part of the team for a couple of years now and have loved every moment of it. I say it was difficult because I truly loved working with the wonderful editor, Kim taranto and team at Scrapbook Creations as well as Belinda Venables and Amanda Hall who contributed with me every second month.

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Also my regular monthly commitment as a Scrapbooking memories Master had finished for the year where again I was so fortunate to have worked with an amazing team of girls and also the editor, Kristy Evans as well as Cassie Bellemore and Sharryn Thomson.

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This year has been a busy one.

Not only for myself with the wonderful scrapbooking opportunities that I've had but also with my photography and my incredible family and their commitments.

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I like to think that I will always give 110% to whatever I can do whether it be for myself and my interests or my family and theirs. So, I've had to cut back on my crafting commitments to do that.

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And you know what? Since doing that , I've scrapped 3 layouts this week !

Three brand new, never before seen, not for any magazine, but for me - and that makes me happy because I love what scrapbooking means to me and I love that it reminds me of all the little things about my family and life that I would otherwise have forgotten.

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So, below is one of the 3 layouts I did this week - not rocket science, but I did it and it means something to me and that's what counts, don't you think?

Thank you to all who let me know they enjoyed my contributions to both magazines whether it was in the Keeping It Simple Article or as a SM Master - it's been an absolute pleasure!

Friday, September 10, 2010

My Surfer layout as seen in Scrapbooking Memories a couple of issues ago.

I love the use of Kraft cardstock - it seems to work so well with the beach photos!

Oh and on the photography front, I'm having alot of fun and have just started offering some crazy cool Xmas Mini photo Sessions . If you're a Brisbanite or can get to Brisbane on Saturday 30th October, then you will have the best time having these Xmas Photo Booth pics taken - take a look here if you're keen!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Since I returned home from America in late March I have been working on a Photographic Album for all of my favourite photos from the trip. If you take a look over HEREyou can see an online version of the album that's currently being printed in America.

I can't wait to see it when it gets delivered - but that will be about 4 weeks or so.

Monday, June 28, 2010

I've been meaning to share a layout that was sent to me by Colleen Boshoff who recently won a pack of goodies that I had up for grabs on my blog. Colleen was kind enough to send me a photo of her layout using the products and I think she did a wonderful job.

I also came across a photo of the layouts that I sent to Scrapbooking Memories to display at the Scrapbook and Papercraft Show a couple of weeks ago. Here they are photographed on the carpet in the study - I'm sure they looked nicer framed on the wall at the convention!

Oh, and I'm excited to share a recent layout that I created recently.

The best part is that it was done for me and I like the way it is - simple!

I was hugely influenced by the super talented, Simple scrapper, Wendy Bretz- a US friend from my early scrapping days.

Monday, June 21, 2010

It's been a rugged couple of weeks but I'm happy to report that I'm getting back on track and starting to feel so much better than I was when I was told I had Parvo Virus. I'd like to thank all the lovely friends who sent me photos and texts and updates on the weekend of the Scrapbooking and Papercraft show - you have no idea how nice it was to know that I was thought of and I am still so sad that I was unable to speak about my style of scrapbooking. I guess it was meant to be and that's that!

I wanted to share a layout that I created late last year that I forgot about. I was inspired to create this "walk to school" themed layout by Nicole Southworth who I've seen do this sort of thing before and I loved the concept. It's a double layout done in A4 format.

Oh, and hopefully I'll get my hands on some more photos of the Scrapbook Show and post them soon for you to see how it all looked. Thanks for dropping by and your comments are always so appreciated.

Friday, June 11, 2010

I have been feeling a little unwell for a couple of weeks - the usual tiredness that we all battle through due to over doing it but I sent myself off to have some blood tests on Monday.

By Tuesday, I was experiencing extreme joint pain, inflamation and lots of fatigue. It continued up until today where I have started to feel mildly better. My results came through indicated that I have parvovirus - a virus that you catch from kids that have had the same thing - it shows as bright red cheeks in kids but in adults it shows as rheumatoid arthritic like symptoms.

Fortunately, it's something that will get better with rest but I am so disappointed that the Doctor has suggested I not be in contact with anyone

(particularly pregnant women) for a little bit longer.

So, what does that mean for me?

I was scheduled this long weekend to speak at 11am for Scrapbooking Memories Magazine in their STUDIO at the Scrapbook and Papercraft Show.

Sadly, Dr says I'm not allowed to do it.

Nor can I see my layouts on display in the Scrapbooking Memories Masters Display area.

It's really disappointing.

My apologies to anyone who was planning to go along and hear me speak.

Kristy and Cassie, from Scrapbooking Memories, have my notes and have suggested that they present my talk on my behalf. Wish I could have been there in person.

I'd love to hear how all about the convention

and I'll be thinking of you all especially at 11am each day.

PS. Forgot to add .... thank you for all the lovely feedback about the Art cards.

shillito.rachel.m - I'm having these cards printed at Officeworks - a cheap black and white copy but done on a 200gsm white card so they look nicer. And by all means, this is not an original idea from me, feel free to have a play and do it for your school too

Sunday, May 23, 2010

It seems like such a long time since I've put some time aside to scrap for myself.

I love the challenges that are put to me by the magazines but I really love it when you have the freedom to create for yourself.

This morning I created this layout with some photos that I've had since Christmas day.

They were the usual Christmas Day photos of the boys that I love to take but this year I managed to hit the jackpot and get a really nice one of the two of them. The journalling tells how I seem to love the crazy ones even more when I look at these photos altogether.

Don't be fooled by the simplicity of this page.

There are 9 different items used on this layout and I love how clean it still looks.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

I'm pretty excited to have been asked to talk at The Scrapbook & Papercraft Convention on June 12-14th this year in Brisbane. I was even more excited when the program came out in print and I was listed amongst some wonderful scrappers in the industry who will be teaching that day.

Here's a link to the Studio Talksthat are being held by Scrapbooking Memories - I'll be talking at 11am each day and can't wait to catch up with some friends (both old and new). I would love to say hello if you come so please don't be shy and come and introduce yourself.

The girls at Scrapbooking Memories have asked me to talk about my Simple Style and how to achieve it. I'm in the processing of trying to think what to say so if you have any thoughts on what you'd like to hear then leave me a message so I can be sure to include it in my talk.

Monday, April 26, 2010

I have a layout due with Scrapbooking Memories soon and they have sent me some fantastic papers to use that have a beach theme.

I chose a handful of my favourite images and created a collage from when Ethan had surfing lessons a few weeks ago while on holidays at the Gold Coast. I love collages and I love lots of photos on a layout - I think it really helps to tell the story.

So, if you're in the mood to scrap a layout with lots of photos using a collage, nows the time, because I'd love to send you what's left in the Scrapbooking Memories

challenge kit once I've finished with it this week.

And for those who know how much product I actually glue to a page, then they will tell you that there will be heaps of stuff leftover to send to you - sheets of paper in fact.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

The hardest thing about having commitments to Scrapbooking Magazines is that you can't share your creations until after the magazine comes out and in the case of Scrapbooking Memories, they prefer us to wait 2 months until after the issue has been out in the newsagency.

So, I forget!

I really do forget what I created and also if I posted it on my blog.

Here was a favourite one I did - especially because I got to use that gorgeous aqua flower made by my dear friend, Michelle Jamieson.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

I know it's been ages since I've posted but for good reason.I have just arrived back from 3 weeks away in America and I had a fantastic time!

Firstly, I flew alone to Las Vegas for a week at WPPI - this is a huge convention where 15 000 photographers flew in to hear some of the best photographers in the world speak and share their secrets and techniques. I can't begin to say how much I learnt from these incredible artists and I loved every minute of being there.

After that, my husband flew in to join me and we became tourists and did the sight seeing thing in Las Vegas then New York then Los Angeles. We had an amazing time away and I'm looking forward to printing up my favourite photos out of thousands of photos so I can scrap ..... like this one!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

If you grab this month's issue of Scrapbook Creations you'll see an article that I wrote with Belinda Venables and Helen Karanfilovski about Stamping.

When I saw that was the topic, I thought to myself 'holy moly' ... I barely own a stamp but I called my trusty scrap buddy, Michelle, and she came to my rescue with enough stamps to satisfy any stamping addict. I chose the scallop border and also the journalling brackets as you'll see in the layout below. Simple I know, but it was a painless start for a non-stamping scrapper.

Photo courtesy of Ethan Stamatellos ..... 4 years old

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About Me

I started scrapbooking in late 2003. A Creative Memories gift voucher from my parents started me off. They thought it was something I'd like ... and it was! Since then, I have had over 100 pieces of work published (layouts and articles) in most of the Australian Magazines as well as a layouts accepted by Scrapbook Answers (US), Scrapbooks Etc.(US) and Simple Scrapbooks (US). I'm proud to have received Honorable Mentions for the past 3 years with Scrapbooking Memories - 1 single layout, 1 double layout and 2 off the page items. I was an active member of Serendipity Scrapbooks Design Team - my local store - up until their closing in mid November 2007. I create layouts mostly about my family and the moments in our daily life. I find inspiration everywhere. From TV ads, magazines, fashion and the beautiful papers that I use. Sometimes a layout just happens - that's a great feeling. Of course I'm also inspired by other artists. I scrap anytime my children are asleep, mainly at the kitchen table in the company of my husband. It's great to throw ideas his way - I get a different perspective. My style tends to be fairly clean in design, focusing strongly on the photograph. I enjoy graphic, modern, crisp pages and I love 'white space'. I definately scrap for me. It's a great creative outlet and it brings balance to my life. It's a wonderful way to preserve a memory for both myself and my children ... and their children.